Bacon package and method of making same



April 15, 1958 F. w. SWANSON 2,830,910

BACON PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Oct. 2, 1953 INVENTOR. jQddwam ATTORNEYS.

BACON PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Fred W. Swanson, Park Ridge, 11]. Application October 2, 1953, Serial No. 383,817

Claims. (Cl. 99-174) This invention relates to a bacon package, and the like. The invention is particularly useful in the storing and dispensing of bacon slices and similar material which is sticky, greasy and difficult to handle.

The packaging of bacon has long presented a problem. In the first place, it is difficult to show the bacon clearly in the package so that the housewife can see the product. The greatest difficulty, however, has to do with the re moval of the bacon slice and the placing of it in the frying pan. Because of the delicate and greasy character of the bacon slice, it is desired, if possible, to avoid touching the bacon slice at all while at the same time it is desired to place it accurately within a frying pan and in spaced relation therein to other slices. It isalso important that the slices remain spaced from each other because when the slices adhere, there is difficulty in tearing them apart and often a portion of the bacon slice separates, giving undesirable fragments in the finisheg l fried product.

An object of the invention is to provide a package which may be conveniently and readily stored within a refrigerator While at the same time permitting the housewife to remove a slice when desired and deposit it accurately within a frying pan and without touching the slice so removed. Yet another object is to provide a transparent package in which the bacon slices are spaced apart so as not to touch each other, the package being such as to retain the moisture and flavor of the bacon-and to keep out air and foreign odors. Still another object is to provide in such a package means whereby single strips carrying single bacon slices, or a larger strip carrying several slices, may be removed from the package as desired and the contents of the removed strip deposited accurately within a skillet, etc. A still further object is to provide a bacon package in the form of a roll which may be stored within a refrigerator so as to occupy a minimum of space, the roll being opened little by little as bacon slices are removed, while exposing to the air only those bacon slices which are removed for frying. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a supporting strip on which bacon is placed in accordance wtih my invention; Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. l but showing the slices enclosed at their ends preparatory to the rolling operation; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the package in roll form with the end of the package secured for shipment; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing an end portion of the package being torn to remove a slice of bacon; and Fig. 5, a perspective view showing the removed strip containing a slice of bacon with one end of the strip folded about the bacon end for grasping, so that the slice of bacon may be deposited upon a skillet without bringing the fingers into contact with the bacon.

In the illustration given, designates a strip or web tates Patent 0 2,830,910 Patented Apr. 15, 1958 upon which the bacon slices 11 are placed in spacedapart relation. The strip 10 is preferably formed of plastic material which is transparent. Theplastic material is particularly desirable because of its transparency and because the purchaser can see the entire length of the exposed bacon strips through the outer panel of the roll. The plastic body may be polyethylene, cellophane, vinyl film, Saran, and other well known'and suitable plastic films. If desired, parchment paper and foil may be employed, such material olfering protection against light. Further, the aluminum or other metal foil has the advantage of being a heat reflector. However such wrapping material may be used, I prefer the transparent plastic heretofore described, which permits ready visibility of the bacon slices and enables the bacon slices to be conveniently handled because of the transparency of the support, as will be described hereinafter.

After the bacon slices 11 are placed in position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the edge portions 12 of the strip ll) are folded over to enclose the ends of the bacon slices, as illustrated best in Fig. 2. The outer end flap 13 of the strip 10 is also preferably turned inwardly over the edge of the outermost bacon slice to enclose the same.

The strip 10 with the folded portions 12 and 13, as described above, and with the bacon slices therein in spaced relation, are then rolled to form the complete roll package 14, as illustrated in Fig. 3. metal bar 15 may then be used to secure the end of the package tightly in position.

I desire the package to have weakened transverse lines there-across even when the strip is in folded relation, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to permit the housewife to selectively tear ofi one or more strips containing one or more slices of bacon on each strip. The transverse weakening in the strip is indicated by the dotted lines 16 in Fig. 2. The transverse weakening is preferably formed by having a partial cut through the thickness of the film but not entirely through the thickness so that the film continues to form a seal against the flow of grease therethrough. The scoring or cut 16, however, weakens the plastic or other film so that it may be readily torn along the line 16 to sever one strip containing one slice of bacon or "ice one strip containing several slices of bacon, depending upon the number of weakened lines 16' that may be employed. To facilitate such tearing, I prefer to notch the edges of the strip 19, as indicated at 17, the notches 17 being aligned with the weakened lines 16.

The finished roll 14 occupies little space and has the advantage of permitting accurate display of the slice as in a food store, while at the same time prcwiding a greaseproof container for the slices and maintaining the slices in spaced-apart and non-contacting relation. With such a package, the housewife is able to determine the extent of the fat and lean on each slice. At the same time the package 14, when stored by the housewife in her refrigerator, occupies a minimum of space and excludes air from the bacon slices.

When it is desired to use one or more slices from the roll, the package may be unrolled, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and a single strip removed by tearing along the weakened line 16. If a single slice 11 is carried by the removed section of the strip 10, the fold-over portion 12 may be grasped on one side between the fingers so that the bacon strip is held securely upon the removed section and the bacon slice may then be deposited in a flat and well-controlled position on the skillet in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. Thus, without bringing the fingers into contact with the greasy slice, the housewife is able to deposit accurately the removed slice in flat and open position against a selected space on the skillet, drawing A clamping the supporting section of strip away after the bacon has been deposited on the skillet.

In the foregoing operation, there is no tearing of the bacon slices because they remain in spaced-apart relation and each supported upon a separated panel of the strip. The strips of bacon not being used and remaining within the roll are protected by the package so that there is no bacterial action or contamination of these. The rolling of the bacon slices into the roll form illustrated provides a firm package even though the individual slices are limp in character and the thickness of the package provides an insulation protecting the bacon against being warmed up when exposed to room air. At no time after packaging does air come in contact with the bacon on the interior of the roll, for not only does the film itself provide an insulation, but the spaced bacon slices themselves serve as a seal at intervals along the paper strip. Finally, in the dispensing of the greasy slices, the removal of the individual slices and the placing of the same within a skillet is accomplished accurately and without bringing the fingers into contact with the slices.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a structure and method in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A bacon package, comprising an elongated flexible grease-resistant web, bacon slices extending in spaced relation transversely of said Web, the edges of said Web being folded inwardly in covering relation about the ends of the slices, said web being weakened at its edges between at least some of the slices to permit tearing transversely to separate and remove bacon slices from the package yet to seal said web against flow of grease therethrough, and said web being rolled longitudinally upon itself to provide a generally cylindrical package.

2. A bacon package, comprising a roll of transparent film, and bacon slices upon said film in spaced-apart, non-contiguous relation, with the slices extending transversely of the film, the edges of the film being folded inwardly about the edges of the slices and notched at spaced points intermediate at least some of said slices for the tearing of the film transversely to separate slices from the package, said film and the slices therein being in the 4 form of a roll, whereby the single film serves to separate slices from each other and to substantially seal each slice within the package.

3. A method of preparing bacon comprising the steps of providing a grease resistant film having a length substantially greater than the width thereof, said width being greater than the length of a bacon slice, weakening said film along transverse lines in such spaced relation to each other as to accommodate a strip of bacon therebetween arranged lengthwise of said transverse lines, arranging bacon slices transversely of said film in spaced relation to each other, folding the longitudinal edges of said film inwardly in covering relation about the ends of said slices, coiling said web about itself to form a generally cylindrical bacon package that permits individual removal of bacon slices, and releasably confining said film in coil form.

4. In the method of claim 3, the step of notching the edges of said film at points alined with said transverse line.

5. A method of preparing bacon comprising the steps of providing a grease resistant film having a length substantially greater than the width thereof, said width being greater than the length of :1 bacon slice partially cutting the thickness of said film along transverse lines in such spaced relation to each other as to accommodate a strip of bacon therebetween arranged lengthwise of said transverse lines whereby said cutting provides a seal against the flow of grease therethrough but permits ready rupture of said film along said transverse line, arranging bacon slices transversely of said film in spaced relation to each other folding the longitudinal edges of said film inwardly in covering relation about the ends of said slices, coiling said web about itself to form a generally cylindrical bacon package that permits individual removal of bacon slices, and releasably confining said film in coil form.

Modern Packaging, May 1941, page 84, article entitled Protective Package For Meat. 

1. A BACON PACKAGE. COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE GREASE-RESISTANT WEB, BACON SLICES EXTENDING IN SPACED TWEEN AT LEAST SOME OF THE SLICES TO PERMIT TEARING TRANSVERSELY TO SEPARATE AND REMOVE BACON SLICES FROM THE PACKAGE YET TO SEAL SAID WEB AGAINST FLOW OF GREASE THERETHROUGH, AND SAID WEB BEING ROLLED LONGITUDINALLY UPON ITSELF TO PROVIDE A GENERALLY CLINDRICAL PACKAGE. 